Beneath Montana Skies

by Mia Ross

  “This river,” the representative from Alaska said, “does it serve the local area?”

  “That’s the Calico River, and yes, it does. Farms and ranches, along with wildlife that comes down into the foothills where they can find food and water to get them through the winter.”

  His eyes lit up enthusiastically. “What kind of wildlife?”

  “Fish in the river, of course. Also cougars, wolves, deer, elk...” She rattled off every species she could think of, down to a colony of prairie dogs that had taken up residence there several years ago.

  “Ms. Whittaker,” he said in a calm tone that had a thread of excitement running through it, “this isn’t merely a matter of land rights. With so many animals freely roaming in and out of the area, Mustang Ridge sounds like a naturally occurring wildlife refuge.”

  Stunned by the revelation that should have been obvious to her before, Morgan fought to come up with a good response. Thankfully, Ty was quicker on his feet.

  “Yes, it is,” he said confidently. “It’s great to know that someone else sees that, too.”

  Sitting back in his chair, the Alaskan folded his hands with a thoughtful expression. Morgan had no clue what he might be thinking, but at least her argument had made a tangible impact on someone other than Craig and Georgia. Quite honestly, she’d begun wondering if she’d have to invite them all to visit the way Craig had done, and show them what she was fighting so hard to protect. It hadn’t occurred to her that their plight would resonate with people from faraway places who were waging the same battles.

  Sad as it was to know other regions were struggling with the same problems, it was also comforting to know that not only did their elected officials understand, but they could help. All along, she’d instinctively known that the conservancy was too small to succeed without some heavy hitters on their side. Brooke Hamilton was a devoted member of the team, but even her legal expertise would only go as far as asking a judge to grant them a temporary reprieve from Cartwright’s prospecting.

  Who could have predicted that in the end it would be the animals that would make the difference?

  Chapter Nine

  It was a bright Monday morning in early August, and Morgan was just putting the finishing touches on the girls’ smiley face pancakes. Between work and the never-ending demands of the conservancy she’d so impulsively started, she seldom got a day completely off. But Allie and Hannah would be headed back to school soon, and she was making a concerted effort to spend as much time with them as she possibly could. Kids were only young once, she reminded herself while she set the pancakes on two plates and drizzled syrup over them. You had to make the most of every phase they went through, because you didn’t get a do-over on childhood.

  “Here you go, ladies,” she announced, delivering her load with a flourish. “Bon appétit.”

  “Where are yours, Mommy?” Hannah asked, her forehead wrinkling in concern. “I thought you liked them, too.”

  “I ate earlier, while I was catching up on some paperwork.” Actually, she hadn’t gotten much food down because the bank’s annual accounting of their finances had soured her stomach. Running a profitable ranch these days was almost impossible unless you had a secret gold mine on the property somewhere. That thought led her to the latest salvo from Cartwright Energy informing the mayor that their impending exploration would begin in October, and her spirits sank even more.

  To combat that, she refocused her worried mind on the reason she was doing all this in the first place: her girls. They might decide to move away to a big city someday, but she hoped they’d always remember their upbringing in this quiet, beautiful place. And that when they were mothers themselves, they’d be able to bring their children back to the same Mustang Ridge they’d grown up in.

  “So, what should we do today?” she asked to get her mind off of the murky future of her hometown.

  “Riding lessons,” Allie suggested, surprising Morgan by being the first to respond. She normally let Hannah take the lead and then followed along. Come to think of it, Morgan had noticed the same tendency a few times recently, which was encouraging. She wished she knew what was enticing her timid girl to be more confident, so she could make sure to keep it coming.

  “That would be fun,” Hannah agreed, directing her comment to her twin. “And then we should go see the mustangs before it gets too hot. Maybe there are some new foals for us to name.”

  “If there are, I can draw them.”

  “That’s a plan,” Morgan announced, pleased that her daughters loved the wild herd as much as she did. It was a joy to share her love of wild things with them, and she hoped it would continue for a long time.

  Then, out of nowhere, came a bellow from her father’s den. “Laura!”

  What followed was a muttered string of words that were mostly unintelligible, but the girls’ matching blue eyes widened in astonishment. Dad wasn’t prone to outbursts like this, and she could only imagine what had brought on this one.

  “Why is Grandpa yelling at Grandma?” Hannah asked in confusion.

  “No clue,” Morgan replied as she got to her feet. “I’ll go find out while you two finish your breakfast.”

  Hurrying down the hallway, she paused in the open doorway of the rustic study to take stock before entering his very masculine domain. Matilda, who was the unofficial queen of the house, was perched on top of a high bookcase, ears flattened while her raccoonish tail twitched in a show of feline temper. Dad sat slumped in his desk chair, chin in hand while he stared morosely at something on the computer. He was by nature an upbeat, positive man, and the defeated pose just about broke her heart.

  “Dad?”

  He didn’t move, but his eyes flicked up to glance over at her. “Hmm?”

  “Is everything okay in here?”

  In answer, he waved his free hand at the monitor. Taking that as an invitation to come in, she crossed the room and leaned over to see what had set him off. He’d left an email open, and when she saw her mother’s name in the From line, it made her stomach turn. The message was short and impersonal, which suggested to her that someone had helped write it.

  Dear James,

  This is a difficult letter for me to write, but I feel it needs to be done. Our separation has given me the chance to examine my life and what I want. My art career is going well, and I believe that it will succeed best in the more urban setting Helena has to offer. I will always care for you, but now that the children are all grown, the time has come for me to do what’s best for me. I don’t want any form of spousal support or any material objects from the house, only the freedom to live my life as I see fit. My decision is final, and I ask you to please sign and return these papers to my attorney as soon as possible.

  Laura

  Attached to it was a file ominously labeled Petition for Divorce. Morgan’s own temper instantly began simmering, and she took a deep breath to settle it before speaking. Turning to her father, she sat on his desk, purposefully blocking the monitor from his view. “From your reaction, I’m assuming this isn’t what you want.”

  “Of course not,” he spat, jumping to his feet to begin an agitated pacing. “I agreed to the separation because I wanted her to get this craziness out of her system and come back to her family.”

  “Why? If she doesn’t want to be here, that’s up to her. We’re doing fine without her.”

  “But she belongs here. She made a promise to me, to you kids. She should be here with us.”

  “Dad, I know it hurts, but I can’t help thinking this is for the best.” She went over to stand with him so he wouldn’t feel so alone. “You’re a great guy, and you deserve to be happy, instead of wasting time waiting around for someone who’s never coming home.”

  He took a few seconds to absorb that, then slowly nodded, as if it pained him to do it. “Thanks for saying that, honey. In my head, I know you’re right.
But my heart isn’t ready to let her go yet.”

  It had taken her months to get over losing Ty, so Morgan understood what he meant. Thinking back to her own situation, she vividly recalled what had hurt above anything. More than the humiliation, more than the missing him, she’d been cheated out of something that could have enabled her to move on a lot sooner. “Would it help if you could talk to her?”

  “I think this—” he motioned to the computer “—is how she wants to do it.”

  “Too bad,” Morgan seethed. “You were married for thirty years, and you have a right to settle this face-to-face. Not in some coward’s-way-out email.”

  Once her furious words sank in, a slight grin brightened his stony features. “You noticed that, too? I think her lawyer wrote it for her.”

  “She owes you an explanation, in her own words, in person,” Morgan declared, feeling more certain of that with each passing moment. “Helena’s a couple hours away, and the address is at the bottom of her message. Go talk to her. Even if the end result is the same, at least you’ll know you had a chance to have your say.”

  He gave her a knowing look. “Unlike you and Ty?”

  “Well, yeah. Although I probably would’ve punched him besides. Considering you’ve got a bad shoulder, I wouldn’t recommend that.”

  As she’d intended, he laughed and seemed to pull up a little straighter. She was glad to be able to help him that way, and she reached her arms around his waist for a hug. Leaning her head back, she smiled up at him. “No matter what happens between you and Mom, it’s gonna be okay. I promise.”

  “I know.” Returning the hug, he raked a hand through his thinning hair. “What I don’t know is if I can confront her like you’re suggesting. We haven’t spoken to each other in over a year, and this isn’t gonna be an easy conversation to start. Assuming she lets me in at all.”

  Morgan hated the uneasiness she heard in his voice, and without hesitation she said, “I’ll go with you. I’ll get the ball rolling and then leave you two alone. Do you think that might help?”

  That earned her one of his trademark scowls. “I’m a grown man. I can manage this just fine on my own.”

  “You’re also a big teddy bear, and you always back down when Mom puts up a fuss,” she reminded him sternly. “My job will be to make sure you don’t let her off the hook too easily. She’s put you through a lot, and she should have to tell you to your face why she’s doing this. You’re entitled to that, and once you have it, you’ll feel better about what’s happened. Eventually,” she added with an encouraging smile.

  He thought it over, then nodded. “All right, let’s get going before I change my mind.”

  “Ryan and Ben are out on the back section, but I’ll call one of them to watch the girls. As soon as one of them is here, we’ll leave.”

  It sounded like a great plan, until her call bounced back to her. She tried again, same result. They must be on the other side of the foothills, she realized with a frown. The cell service was nonexistent out there, and she could keep calling all morning and never reach them. She hated to leave her father to his difficult errand without backup, but there didn’t seem to be any choice.

  When he joined her in the front hallway, she didn’t waste time sugarcoating the situation. “Dad, the boys are out of cell range, so I can’t reach them. I won’t be able to go with you, after all. I’m sorry.”

  His usually cheerful expression dimmed, but he quickly recovered, masking his disappointment with a smile. “That’s all right. It’s a long drive, anyway.”

  “You can still go,” she insisted, willing him to agree for his own sake. “You should talk to Mom so you can put an ending on this and get on with your life.”

  “It’s already over, so what’s the point? I don’t really have anything to say. I’ll just sign those forms and mail them to her lawyer like she asked.”

  Stubborn to the bone, it wasn’t like him to give up on anything. Then she understood what was going on. “You’re afraid of what she’ll say, aren’t you?”

  “Course not,” he snorted, a spark of her own temper glittering in his eyes. After a moment, though, his manner softened, and he sighed. “Maybe. Sometimes I wonder if there’s something I could’ve done to make things better. She never seemed unhappy here, so I didn’t know there was anything wrong until she left.”

  Morgan knew how that felt, getting broadsided by someone you trusted, wondering what on earth had gone wrong. The difference for her was that Ty had found the courage to ’fess up and admit that what had driven him away wasn’t her fault, but his. Her father deserved that same peace of mind, and she wanted him to have it.

  “Why don’t we just wait until tomorrow?” she suggested. “I can arrange for someone to watch the girls, and we’ll go then.”

  “Or,” Dad countered with a thoughtful look, “we could ask Ty.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Why not? I saw him around earlier, so he’s not working at the feed store today. He loves the girls, and it’s only for a few hours. Then I can get this outta the way before it drives me crazy.”

  He had a point, Morgan acknowledged. Their industrious neighbor had been outside his small ranch house all morning, doing handyman types of jobs on the exterior. It wasn’t as if he had nothing to do, but home repairs could wait. Beyond that, she knew that he’d jump at the chance to help her dad while spending time with Allie and Hannah. It was a win, all the way around.

  It couldn’t hurt to ask, she decided while she pulled up his number. If he was willing to help out, their tense mission would be over by this afternoon. If not, they’d go tomorrow.

  “Hey there, cowgirl,” he answered on the second ring. “What’s up?”

  As much as his overly familiar attitude toward her had bothered her when he first showed up, she had to admit that she was beginning to like hearing his customary greeting again. Casual, but affectionate, it made her think that they just might be on their way to being friends.

  After she’d laid out the reason for her call, he didn’t hesitate. “Gimme five minutes to clean up, and I’ll be right over. If JD’s ready to make that trip, we don’t want him putting it off and changing his mind.”

  “Thanks, Ty. I really appreciate it.” Not only for his help, she realized. But his instinctive way of agreeing that her father needed to end his marriage on his terms, not those of a selfish woman who couldn’t even be bothered to pick up a phone.

  “Anytime, MJ. You know that.”

  She did once, she thought as she ended the call. But it was a nice sentiment, and she was grateful for the gesture. It almost made up for the fact that he’d once again called her MJ. When would he stop doing that?

  By the time she’d filled in the girls on their change of plans, Ty was knocking on the front door.

  “Have a good trip, Mommy,” Allie said, adding a light hug before returning to her artwork.

  “We’ll feed Skye and Matilda for you,” Hannah added helpfully.

  “Thanks, honey, that’s a big help.”

  It struck her that neither of them had asked about their absent grandmother. She felt a pang of sorrow that her mother had been gone so long, they didn’t miss her. Laura Whittaker had lost something precious when she abandoned her family to set out on her grand adventure. Morgan hoped she was happy with her choice, because it had cost her an awful lot.

  Ty wouldn’t have been her first option as a babysitter. Although he’d abided by her conditions for seeing their daughters, she wasn’t entirely comfortable with him being in charge of them for so long. But he waited patiently while she ran down a list of dos and don’ts, and she had to give him credit for humoring her.

  While he walked them out to the truck, she continued her instructions. “I promised them a riding lesson, and I don’t mind if you do that. They have to wear their riding helmets, and they only ride Belle, the gray Sh
etland. They’re good for their age, but they’re not ready for anyone taller. If they want to see the mustangs, drive them out there. It’s too long a ride for them at their age.”

  “Got it.”

  Dad was already in the driver’s seat of his SUV, and he spread his hands in a frustrated gesture that spoke for itself. Morgan got in beside him, and Ty closed the door behind her.

  “Don’t worry,” he said with a reassuring smile. “I’ll take good care of the girls while you’re gone. You can count on me.”

  “Okay.”

  It didn’t feel okay, though, and she corkscrewed in her seat to stare back at the house. He waved, then went back inside.

  “Try not to worry so much,” her father advised in a soothing tone. “After all, you’re leaving Allie and Hannah with their father.”

  Yeah, Morgan thought apprehensively. That was the problem, although she couldn’t deny that he’d gone to a lot of trouble to prove himself to her. The reckless young man who’d broken her heart all those years ago certainly hadn’t been father material, and she stood by her decision to cut him out of the girls’ lives.

  But now, she wasn’t so sure. He seemed more settled these days, and he’d followed her suggestions about rehabbing his house into an open, family-friendly place. She seldom had time to mull things over this way, but as the miles flew by, she began to wonder: Was it possible that Ty wanted to be more than a part-time father?

  The concept wasn’t as far-fetched as it might have seemed to her a few weeks ago. The trouble was, if they were meant to be together, it probably would have happened by now. But probably wasn’t definitely, her heart reminded her. Another strong voice chimed in to remind her that letting her emotions take the lead had gotten her into trouble with the charming cowboy in the first place. Being practical had kept her on solid footing for most of her life, and it was the path she normally chose because it just made sense.